A Co Antrim woman has walked away from Channel 4 TV show The Bank Job with a share of £450,000 after two fellow contestants squandered the opportunity to split the cash between them.

On Saturday night Oonagh McMullan pocketed £150,000 on the finale of the live show, as did two other contestants.

In an amazing finish to the new series, presented by George Lamb, the final two contestants Darragh Moran from Manchester and Londoner Michael McQueen, chose to hand each other a briefcase full of trash rather than cash.

The rules of the game meant the other three contestants shared the spoils, winning more than £150,000 each.

The audience gasped in disbelief, Oonagh cried with joy and even host George Lamb looked visibly shocked by the top contestants' disastrous strategies.

Last night, Oonagh told the Belfast Telegraph she was ecstatic to win such a huge amount of money and can't wait to pay off her mortgage.

"It's unbelievable," she said.

Oonagh said that all the other players knew Darragh would try to take all the money for himself. "I believe good things happen to good people. If I was in that situation and someone stole from me, they'd have to live with that," she said.

"They'll always know that they've done that, but I would know I've done the right thing."

Ms McMullan is looking forward to seeing her friends and family and letting the reality of her good fortune sink in.

"I just couldn't believe it and I still can't," she said.

"I won't be flash with it. I want to pay off my mortgage. To have that financial security as a single mum, especially in this economic climate, is amazing."